“Ms Campbell’s testimony is necessary as there is evidence that Ms Campbell was given rough diamonds by the accused (Taylor) in September 1997,” said a prosecution application filed with the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

“Ms Campbell’s anticipated evidence concerns ‘a central issue’ in the case: the accused’s possession of rough diamonds,” states the document, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.

Taylor’s war crimes trial heard claims in January that he had given Campbell a “large” diamond after a 1997 dinner hosted by South African ex-president Nelson Mandela.

The diamond was among those Taylor had obtained from Sierra Leone rebels and took to South Africa “to sell… or exchange them from weapons,” prosecutor Brenda Hollis said in cross-examination of Taylor at the time…